Device for straightening and drying hair

Abstract: A device for straightening and drying hair comprising two facing rotating belts (1,2), to which sets of brushes (4) are applied which straighten the hair, and means (7,9) suitable to carry out at the same time the hair drying, where said two belts are moved by two pinions (3,8) at the same speed but in opposed directions, so that the facing parts of the two belts slide parallely and in the same direction.

Description: This invention proposes a device for straightening and drying hair. More precisely, the device according to the invention consists of two plates, around which as many tracks, or belts, rotate to which brushes are applied, which, thanks to their movement, keep the hair straightened and comb it, an air diffuse being also foreseen to dry the hair together with the action of said brushes. At present manual devices are known to straighten hair (straightening plates), which are made up of small pliers, in which at least one of the ribs contains an electric resistance capable of heating its external surface. By inserting a lock of hair between the plier's ribs and making it slide inside it, starting from the join of the hair and up to its tip, the hair is subjected to a tension which causes it to be straightened, owing also to the pliers high temperature. By repeating the operation on all the locks of hair a complete straightening is obtained, an operation which must be carried out on perfectly dry hair. It is however apparent how, to carry out the above described operation, it is necessary to employ a person who, after drying the hair, operates the pliers and inserts from time to time the locks into the pliers; these are operations which take a long time and anyway a longer time the thicker is the hair to be straightened. Another inconvenience of the above described pliers consists in that, even though the operator is skilful, it is impossible to get a perfect result, with perfectly straight and sleek hair. Devices for drying and styling the hair are known from US-A-3894547, which discloses a combination of a hot air blower with a rotatable comb and from FR-A-2297015, which discloses a hair dryer combined with a rotatable brush or an endless brushed belt. The device according to the invention aims at solving said inconveniences by means of the use of two rotating belts, equipped with suited brushes, between which the hair is inserted. The two belts have the same operating speed but different lenght and the rows of brushes fixed to these belts are spaced out, being the distance between the lower rows different from the distance between the upper rows. The device according to the invention also foresees a hot air diffuser which dries the hair while this is kept straightened by said brushes fixed to said belts, thus obtaining the straightening of the whole hair at the same time and doing away with burning risks. The hot air flow is preferably directed from lower plate toward upper plate. The device according to the invention will now be further described also referring to the enclosed drawings, in which: Fig.1 is a schematical side view, of the device according to the invention; Fig.2 is a schematical side viewof the device from the side opposite to the one of Fig.1 and Fig.3 is a rear view of the device. The device comprises a pair of belts 1 and 2, which rotate in opposed directions, in the direction of the arrows F shown in the figure, said belts being operated, through as many pinions 3 and 8, by a gearmotor group (not shown). The belts are assembled on as many support plates, which force them to follow a path such as the one shown in Fig.1. Applied to both belts are some sets of brushes 4, with the bristles arranged orthogonally to belts. The two belts have the same operating speed but different length and the brushes fixed to these belts are placed along spaced out rows, being the distance between the lower rows of brushes different from the distance between the upper rows. The belt 1 has a housing 5 covering it completely, except its lower part. The same applies to the track or belt, 2, with the difference that the only uncovered part in this case is the upper part. The plates are hinged one another so that they can open to allow the hair to be inserted between the belts, which are then closed again to carry out the straightening. The belt 1 and the housing 5 are pivoted around the axis of the pinion 3, thus making it possible to rotate the block on the whole defined as "A" and to distance the lower side of the belt 1 from the upper side of the belt 2. The lower housing provides an attachment for a feed pipe 9 connected to a blower 7; inside the pipe 9 suitable heating means (not shown) are provided for. Preferably the hot air flow is directed in such a way to move from the head of the user towards the rear part of the device in the direction of arrows F (fig.1). The whole device is supported by a supporting member 6 with adjustable height and equipped with wheels so that it can be easily moved and comfortably adjusted. The working of the device according to the invention will now be easily understandable. Once the block A of the device is lifted, the device's height is adjusted so that the upper side of the belt 2 is placed in correspondence with the nape of the neck of the person whose hair is meant to be straightened. Then the whole hair is placed on the upper side of said belt 2, which, as previously described, is without housing. The block A is then lowered by bringing the lower side of the belt 1 without housing in correspondence with the part of the belt 2 on which the hair lies which will thus be shut in. The device is then started. During operating the device alternate phases wherein at least a couple of rows of brushes are alligned to phases wherein the rows of brushes are disalligned. When the rows of brushes are alligned the combing action results very strong, while when the rows of brushes are disalligned the combing action is rather weak. The device simulate in this way a hand combing, the hair is straightened while a jet of hot air dries it. Moreover, the whole device can optionally swing around the sliding axis of the belts in the position in which they slide parallel, so that the two ribs touch the whole nape of the neck. After some time, thanks to the action of the brushes and to the hot air jet, the hair is straightened and dry, perfectly sleek. It is clear how the use of the device according to the invention does away with every risk of burnings, since no external hot or incandescent bodies are foreseen; besides, while the device is working, the presence of an operator is not necessary, since he will be engaged only before and after the hair straightening.

Claims: A device for straightening and drying hair, comprising two belts facing each other and being rotatable in opposite directions and being provided with sets of brushes for insertion of the hair therebetween and further comprising means to direct a jet of heated air towards the hair for carrying out the drying at the same time. A device, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the two rotating belts have the same speed but different length and in that the brushes fixed to these belts are placed along spaced out rows, being the distance between the lower rows of brushes different from the distance between the upper rows. A device for straightening and drying hair according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper belt is fully covered except its lower part, a housing being provided also on the lower belt, with the exception of the upper part of the belt. A device for straightening and drying hair according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower belt is larger than the upper belt. A device according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the block made up of belt, brushes and upper housing can be pivoted in correspondence of one of its ends so as to be lifted. A device according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said belts are moved by two pinions at the same speed but in opposed directions, so that the facing parts of the two belts slide parallely and in the same direction. A device for straightening and drying hair according to the preceding claims, characterized in that, inside the housing of the belts, a ventilation device and air heating device are provided. A device for straightening and drying hair according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a support for the whole device is provided, with adjustable height and resting on wheels so that it can be easily moved. A device for straightening and drying hair according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the whole device can swing around the sliding axis of the belts in the position in which they slide parallelly so that the two ribs brush against the whole nape of the neck.

Inventors: BONOMELLI FEDERICO, BONOMELLI, FEDERICO
Applicants: MAKO SHARK S R L, MAKO SHARK S.R.L.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A45D1
IPC codes: A45D2